Wiktionary

asterism

English

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WOTD – 14 April 2010
 
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The "Summer Triangle", an asterism easily seen overhead during clear summer nights (in the northern hemisphere).
 
An asterism (mineralogy)

Etymology

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From Ancient Greek ἀστερισμός (asterismós, “group of stars”), from ἀστήρ (astḗr, “star”). Analyzable as aster- +‎ -ism.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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asterism (plural asterisms)

  1. (astronomy) An unofficial constellation (small group of stars that forms a visible pattern).
    The Big Dipper, Summer Triangle, and Orion's Belt are asterisms.
    • 1825, Geo G. Carey, Astronomy, as it is known at the present day, London, p. 66 f:
      Of the constellations, or asterisms. [...] It therefore became necessary to adopt a more general method of distinguishing them. This was accomplished by portioning out the heavens into imaginary figures, of men, birds, fishes, &c. called Constellations or Asterisms.
    • 2007, Matilde Battistini, Rosanna M. Giammanco Frongia (translation from Italian into English), Astrology, Magic, and Alchemy in Art, page 60:
      Like Pisces and Capricorn, Aquarius is located in that part of the sky known as "Astral Sea," a region inhabited by water asterisms such as Eridanus, Cetus (the Whale), and the Dolphin.
  2. A rarely used typographical symbol of three asterisks arranged in a triangle, ⁂, used to call attention to a passage or to separate subchapters in a book. Distinct from a dinkus which also uses asterisks to separate.
  3. (mineralogy) A star-shaped figure exhibited by some crystals by reflected light (as in a star sapphire) or by transmitted light (as in some mica).

Derived terms

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Translations

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See also

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Anagrams

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Romanian

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Etymology

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Borrowed from French astérisme.

Noun

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asterism n (plural asterisme)

  1. asterism

Declension

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singular plural
indefinite definite indefinite definite
nominative-accusative asterism asterismul asterisme asterismele
genitive-dative asterism asterismului asterisme asterismelor
vocative asterismule asterismelor
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